A Childcare module was included in the QNHS in Q4 2002. A Liaison Group of interested parties drawn from the public and private sectors (See LG members below) was involved in the consultation process for the module.
| Members of Liaison Group |
|---|
| Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform |
| National Voluntary Childcare Organisations |
| Area Development Management Ltd. |
| Irish Congress of Trade Unions |
| Department of Health and Children |
| Central Statistics Office |
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment also provided some comment on an early draft of the questionnaire.
The module was designed to supply data on the use, cost and availability of childcare throughout the State. For Q1 05 National Update Module a set of questions from 2002 has been repeated in order to update the data collected then. This will allow policymakers and interested parties to assess changes since 2002 in all of the main areas such as type of childcare, cost of care and hours spent in care.
For the purposes of this survey Childcare is to be distinguished from babysitting, arrangements made during holiday periods and days off unless referred to explicitly by the questions. It refers to arrangements that are usually made by parents/guardians on a regular weekly basis during the working day (e.g. Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm… or whatever constitutes same) for the care of their children.
A distinction is made in this questionnaire between children attending primary school and younger children who are not attending primary school.
SHOW CARD: The list of childcare options will not apply in all cases, but the list is the same for all questions to facilitate responses.
Childcare Questions
[List of persons in household]
Please enter the line number of the person who is answering the Childcare module.
"NOTE: The Childcare module is only to be asked in households where there are children currently attending primary school or younger non-school-going children."
Note: The person who answers this module must be 15 or over and a guardian of the child in question
Interviewer Note: This refers to any child(ren) within the household for whom the responding adult has direct responsibility
How many children currently attending primary school do you have?
How many younger non-school going children do you have?
Can you say which is the main type of childcare that you use for your school-going child(ren)? [SHOW CARD]
1. Children minded at home by me
2. Children minded at home by partner
3. Unpaid relative (or family friend) in your own home
4. Unpaid relative (or family friend) in his/her own home
5. Paid relative (or family friend) in your own home
6. Paid relative (or family friend) in his/her own home
7. Paid childminder in your own home
8. Paid childminder in his/her own home
9. Au Pair / Nanny
10. Work-based crèche
11. Naíonra
12. Crèche / Nursery
13. Montessori school
14. Playgroup / pre-school / sessional childcare
15. Homework club
16. After-school activity-based facility
17. Special needs facility
18. Activity Camps (Sports, recreation, arts & crafts etc.)
19. Other
Multiple responses not allowed
Can you say which is the main type of childcare that you use for your non school-going child(ren)? [SHOW CARD]
1. Children minded at home by me
2. Children minded at home by partner
3. Unpaid relative (or family friend) in your own home
4. Unpaid relative (or family friend) in his/her own home
5. Paid relative (or family friend) in your own home
6. Paid relative (or family friend) in his/her own home
7. Paid childminder in your own home
8. Paid childminder in his/her own home
9. Au Pair / Nanny
10. Work-based crèche
11. Naíonra
12. Crèche / Nursery
13. Montessori school
14. Playgroup / pre-school / sessional childcare
15. Homework club
16. After-school activity-based facility
17. Special needs facility
18. Activity Camps (Sports, recreation, arts & crafts etc.)
19. Other
Multiple responses not allowed
Can I ask you how many hours per week your school-going child(ren) spend(s) in your main form of childcare (^MAINCAR1)?
Note: If more than one child, enter the total number of hours spent by all children in childcare
Example: If two school-going children spend 40 hours each per week in a Crèche then record 80 hours for HOURPRIM.
[Q1.]
Can I ask you how many hours per week your non school-going child(ren) spend(s) in your main form of childcare (^MAINCAR2)?
Note: If more than one child enter the total number of hours spent by all children in childcare
Example: If three non school-going children spend 20 hours each per week with a paid childminder then record 60 hours for HOURPREP.
Can I ask you, how much in total does your ^MAINCAR1 typically cost you per week for your school going children?
EUR ______[Q2.]
1. The cost of childcare is for the main source of childcare identified in MAINCAR1.
2. The cost of care is the total cost for all children in this type of care per week.
E.g Two children in a crèche @ €150 each = €300 per week for COSTPRIM
3. Cost should be recorded against all care types where money is paid on a regular basis, regardless of whether this is a formal or informal arrangement
Can I ask you, how much in total does your ^MAINCAR2 typically cost you per week for your non-school going children?
EUR _________[Q3.]
1. The cost of childcare is for the main source of childcare identified in MAINCAR2.
2. The cost of care is the total cost for all children in this type of care per week.
E.g Two children in a crèche @ €150 each = €300 per week for COSTPREP
3. Cost should be recorded against all care types where money is paid on a regular basis, regardless of whether this is a formal or informal arrangement